Toy railroad track



JuneZZ, 1937. I G. A. CRANE 2,034,322

TOY RAILROAD TRACK Filed Oct. 10, 1955 FIGA.

INVENTOR 650 ?6! A. CR4 4' ATTOR EY Patented June 22 1937 UNITED STATETor RAILROAD 'TRA'CK George A. Crane, New Rochelle, N. Y. ApplicationOctober 10, 1935, Serial N6. 44,383

8 Claims.

' This invention relates to toy railway tracks and more particularly tothe rail elements employed in such toy railway tracks.

This invention has for its main object the provision for use in anelectric toy railroad of an extremely light weight durable trackstructure which can be constructed at low cost.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be fully understoodfrom the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary isometric view of a section of toy trackincorporating the present invention;

: Figures 2 and 3 are respectively isometric and top plan views of oneof the cross ties used in the section of track shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of one of the rails used in the section oftrack shown in Figure 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing and more particularly to Figure1, the section of track comprises a plurality of rail elements I, whichare secured in proper spaced relationship by means of ties 2. The railsare secured to the ties by fitting them into suitable notches 3.Ordinarily the depth of the notches 3 is equal to approximately one-halfthe height of the rails I, and the width of the notches 3 is such thatthe engagement between the ties and the rails affords sufficientfrictional resistance against disassembly to maintain the rails andcross ties as a unitary track structure. The cross ties may beconstructed of any suitable material; however, it is ordinarilypreferred to construct them of wood.

The rails I comprise relatively narrow elongated flexible strips, andare constructed of a suitable material, such as wood or the like, whichdoes not have the property of electric conductivity. The upper portionof each rail is provided with an over-lying covering 6 consisting of athin layer or sheet of metal which is capable of conducting electricity.This thin over-lying metallic covering 6 preferably takes the form of ametal foil formed from any suitable metal or alloy of metal, forexample, aluminum, copper, et cetera. This foil is preferably of thestandard type, which is readily available on the market. It will benoted in the embodiment illustrated that the over-lying thin metal stripextends a substantial distance below the top surface of the rail, thisparticular structure being employed to overcome any possibility of thefoil becoming detached from the rail, and to insure that the flanges ofthe wheels of the toy railroad train will contact metal as well as theflat peripheral face of the wheels. The foil is preferably secured bymeans of a suitable adhesive agent such asglue or cement. I have foundit expedient ,to employ a metal foil which has secured to it (by cement,glue or the like) a backing formedof paper, the paper in turn beingcemented orgluedtothe rail. The thin over-lying metal cover permits therail to be considerably flexed or curved without in any way tending toinjure, suc h as by buckling or breaking, or dislodge the metal,covering, at .the same time providing a smooth .metallic surface for therails which will resist wear and function in every way as satisfactorilyas the conventional type of all metal rail heretofore-used for, theoperation of toy electrictrains.

In actual practice, it is preferred to employ the metal covered rails ofthepresent invention for both the side rails of the, track proper, aswell as the middle or third rail which is contacted by the brush or shoeof the electric locomotive. The rails may be of any desired length. Thetrack is intended to be assembled by the user and because of itscharacter it can be assembled in any desired shape or conformation, theflexibility of the rails permitting the track to be curved as desired.In assembling the track, it is preferred to so arrange the rails thateach particular length of rail ends and abuts the next length of rail ator between different ties. Various means of 30 assuring proper alignmentbetween the abutting ends of the individual lengths of rail may beemployed. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, I have shownmetal clips 5, formed of spring steel or the like, which are adapted to3 engage the abutting rail ends in the manner shown in Figure 1. Theclip conforms with the shape of the rail and firmly embraces the portionof the rail covered by the thin overlying sheet of metal or foil,thereby providing a satisfactory electric connection between each raillength. The clip is sufficiently thin so that it does not protrude to amaterial extent above the top surface of the rail. If desired, theabutting ends of the individual rail lengths may be maintained inalignment by so engaging the tie that the point of engagement issubstantially in the middle of the notch 3, and a suitable metal elementmay be secured to the cross tie and extend upwardly and contact the sideof both the abutting rail lengths and the metal covering thereon toprovide the necessary electric connection between the rail lengths. V

If desired, the bottom surface of the rail may be provided with anoverlying layer of thin metallie material similar to that employed onthe upper surface so that upon undue wear occurring to the upper surfaceof the rail, the track may be restored to new condition by reversing therails If desired, the entire rail may be covered with .the thin metalliccovering or foil, however, when per surface of the rails, a coating ofsuitable metal.

paint may be applied to the rails. There are a number of brands of suchpaint readily available on the market which are suitable, for example,

the type made with fine particles of aluminum or copper alone, or in theform of alloys of these metals. The thickness of the metallic paintcoating may be varied as desired, however, one or two coats of suchpaint will ordinarily be found to be sufiicient. When dry, the metalpaint forms a thin adhering continuous metal covering capable ofconducting electricity.

I claim: I

l. A toy electrical railroad trackrail element comprising a length ofmaterial which is a nonconductor of electricity, the top surface of saidlength of material having cemented to it a thin foil-like layer of'metallic materialwhich is a conductor of electricity.

2. A toy electrical railroad track rail element comprising a length ofmaterial which is a nonconductor of electricity, the upper surface ofsaid length of material having cemented to it a covering of metal foilwhich is a conductor of electricity.

'3. A toy electrical railroad track rail "element comprising a length ofmaterial which is a non- This, of course, can be conductor ofelectricity, the upper portion of said length of material, including itstop surface being provided with an adhering thin foil-like overlyingmetallic covering which is a conductor of electricity.

4. A toy electrical railroad track rail element comprising a length ofmaterial which is a nonconductor of electricity, the upper portion ofsaid length of material, including its top surface, having cemented toit an over-lying covering of metal foil which is a conductor ofelectricity."

5. A toy electrical railroad track rail element comprisingan elongatedstrip of wood having cemented to the upper portion thereof, includingits top surface,a thin foil-like over-lying continuous metallic coveringwhich is a conductor of electricity.

6. A toy electrical railroad track rail element comprising an elongatedstrip of wood having cemented to the upper portion thereof, includingits top surface, a thinfoil-like over-lying cn-- tinuous metalliccovering comprising metal foil which is a conductor of electricity. 7 f

'7. A toy electrical railroad track rail element consisting of a railelement formed of wood and having permanently cemented to its topsurface a thin foil-like continuous metallic covering ca.- pable ofconducting electricity along substantially the'entire length of the topsurface of said rail element.

8. A toy electrical railroad track rail element consisting of a railelementformed of wood and having permanently cemented to. its topsurface a thin continuous metallic covering comprising metal foilcapable of conducting electricity along 1 substantially the entirelength of the top surface of said rail element. I GEORGE A. CRANE.

